Universal joint



Feb. 6, 1945. wlNGQUlST Re. 22,600

UNIVERSAL JOINT Original Filed May 9, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 2 1

s 62 h/m um Feb. 6, 1945. 5. ca. WINGQUIST UNIVERSAL JOINT OriginalFiled ma 9, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 6, 1945. s WINGQUIST Re. 22,600

UNIVERSAL JOINT Original Filed May 9, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 aid?Reissued Feb. c, 1 945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIVERSAL JOINT SvenGustaf Wingquist, Remningstorp, Shara, Sweden Original No. 2,236,633,

No. 272,657, May 9, issue March 5. 194

The present invention relates to a universal joint having a singlecenter of deflection and has for its object to bring about such a jointof a simple and compact construction, which is kept together axially byitself and in which the variety with respect to the angular speeds ofthe driving and the driven member of the joint can be chosen at will.

The invention consists essentially in this that placed between a drivingand a driven member, provided with diametrically or substantiallydiametrically opposed conical, plane or, curved races, is a single rigidtransmission member provided with roller members having a conical orcylindrical shape or a curved generatrix corresponding to and bearingagainst said races and also with bevelled toothed rims or segments,

dated April 1, 1941, Serial 1939. Application for rewhich mesh withcorresponding toothed segments on the driving and driven members of thejoint and serve to adjust the transmission member to take up a positionin a plane preferably passing through the bisectrix of the axes of thejoint members and deviating from the bisectrix-plane of said axes andalso to keep the joint members together in the axial direction and totake up axial forces acting on said members. Here and in the followingthe bisectrix-plane is assumed to be the plane, which, passing throughthe bisectrix of the axes of the joint members, is perpendicular to theplane containing the said axes.

In the annexed drawings some embodiments of a universal joint accordingto this invention are shown. Fig. 1 is an axial section of a universaljoint according to one embodiment having the joint members placed at anangle to each other. Fig. 2 is a. cross-section along the line 2--2 inFig. 1, viewed from the right, the joint members being placed coaxially.Fig. 3 is a top view of the joint with the members placed coaxially, andFig. 4 is a similar diagrammatic view with the joint members placed atan angle to each other. Fig. 5 is an end view of a joint memberaccording to a. modified construction, and Fig.

Figs. '7 and 8 show two different modifications of the transmissionmember. Fig. 9 shows a transmission member having convex roller members,

6 is an axial section of the said joint member.

ther bevelled toothed segments l 2, Serial No. 433,525. In Sweden April4, 1939 12 Claims. (CI- 64-21) vided with four clutch-like projectionsor arms 3, l, 5, 6 and 3 4 5 6 respectively, said arms opposing eachother diametrically by pairs and each pair of opposing arms 3, 4 and 5,6 and 3 4 and 5 8 respectively, lying at equal distance from the centerof deflection 0 of the joint in such manner, however, that the one pairof arms 3, 4 and 3 4 respectively, of each joint member I and 2,respectively, lies at a greater radial distance than does the secondpair of arms 5, 5 and 5 6 respectively, so that the outer arms 3, 4 and3 4 respectively, of each joint member I and 2, respectively, willembrace the inner arms 5 6 and 5, 6, respectively, of the opposite jointmember 2 and I, respectively.

The clutches or arms are provided at the inside with beveled races 1, 8,9, Ill and 1 B 9 I0 respectively, coinciding with cones ll, I2 havingtheir apices turned towards each other and lying at the center ofdeflection 0 of the joint.

Placed between the said arms is a common transmission member, comprisinga central portion l3, formed at the ends as conical rollers I4 and I5capable oi rolling on the corresponding races of .the joint members.Formed on the transmission member outside the rollers are fur- 6, l1 andI6 I1 respectively, meshing with corresponding bevelled toothed segmentsl8, l9 and I8 I9 respectively, on the outer'arms 3, I and 3 4respectively. Preferably, the pitch cone of the said toothed segmentsmay coincide with the peripheral surface of the corresponding roller Hand I5, respectively, so that a correct rolling is obtained. If desired,the teeth may be truncated along the pitch cone either on the jointmembers or on the transmission member in order to facilitate themanufacture of the conical races or the rollers, respectively. The teethon any of said parts may also be shaped as tops of teeth only, i. e.without the ordinary root portion.

The toothed segments Hi, I6 and I1, I1 respectively, of the transmissionmember are formed on rectangular portions 20, 2| located outside therollers l4 and I5, respectively, in order to facilitate the mounting anddismounting, respectively, of the joint, as will be more clearlydescribed below.

The action of the above described universal joint is the following.

Commencing at the position of the joint memhers I and 2 shown in Fig. 1,in which the axis of the transmission member l3, I4, 15 lies in thebisectrix-plane P, it may firstly be assumed that the joint member! isswung to a. position coaxial with the member I. On account of the meshbetween the toothed segments I5, [6 I1, I1 01 the transmission memberand the toothed segments I8, I8 l9, I9 of the joint members thetransmission member, while rolling on the correspondsaid position thejoint acts asanordinary dog.

If it further be assumed-also commencing at the position in Fig. 1,where the axis of the transmission member lies in the bis'ectrix-plane,as mentioned-that the driving joint member I be rotated 90 to theposition shown in Fig. 4, the transmission member will roll between thetoothed segments and the races due to the displacement of the toothedsegments of the driven joint member relatively to the toothed segmentsof the driving joint member and the axis of the transmiss ion memberwill be set in a line P deviating from the bisectrix-plane P. As aconsequence,

simultaneously the races 9, 8 Ill, I0 of the inner arms 5, 5 G, B arerelieved of pressure. Thus, a certain play occurs between the rollersl4, l5 of the transmission member and the said races resulting in thatthe transmission member is able to roll freely on the outer races 1. 8and I 8 respectively, at the above described settings of the saidmember.

At the backward running the power transmission is efiected through thetransmission member between the inner arms. 5, 5 and 6, 6 whilesimultaneously the races 1,1 8, 8 of the outer arms, 3, 3 l, 4 will berelieved of pressure from the rollers l4, IS.

The joint members I and 2 are kept together axially by means of theintermeshing toothed segthe driven joint member will obtain a certainlag during the said rotation period (90 from the position in Fig. 1),and during the continued rotation of the driving joint member I about anangle of 90 the driven joint member will fetch back the said lag, theaxis or the transmission member being gradually setin thebisectrix-plane during this period of rotation.

During the following rotation of the driving joint member I a quarter ofa revolution the above described course performed during the firstperiod will be repeated, i. e. a lag or retardation of the driven jointmember 2, whereas during the rotation of the joint member I the lastquarter of the revolution the course during the second period will berepeated, 1. e. a fetching back or acceleration of the driven jointmember 2.

This means that at each revolution the angular velocity or the drivenjoint member is different from the angular velocity of the driving jointmember.

This non-uniformity is dependent of the angle of deflection between theaxes of the joint members and also on the relation between. the radii ofthe toothed segments of the transmission member and the correspondingtoothed segments of the joint members.

The latter conditions make it possible to construct universal jointsaccording to the invention having varying speed diflerences by simplychoosing diiferent relations between the said radii, i. e. diiferentgear ratios between the intermeshing toothed segments.

' In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the said relation is chosen2:5, and as a consequence the speed difference will be considerablysmaller than in the common cardan joints.

However, there is nothing in the way of choosing the relation of theradii in such manner that the speed difference will be considerablygreater than in the said cardan joints, if for any reason this would bedesired.

Further, the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is constructed for runningin the forward as well as in the backward direction.

In the former case, in which the rotation is sumed to take place in thedirection of the arrow shown in Fig. 2, the power transmission iseffected by the aid of the transmission member [3, l4, l5 between theouter arms 3, 3 and l, 4 while ments Iii-I8, [B -I8 l'|l9 and |1 l9 inas much as the said segments by pairs l8, ill-I6 I8 and I1, I9l1 I9respectively, perform power moments, which counter-act each other.Simultaneously the toothed segments serve to take up axial thrustsacting on the joint and also, as mentioned, to govern the transmissionmember rolling between the races, so'that the said member takes up thecorrect position under all conditions.

The dismounting of the joint members is per formed in the followingmanner.

In the position shown in Fig. 1, the joint mem bers i and 2 aredeflected about such a great angle that the toothed segments of thejoint members I and, those of the transmission members are brought outof mesh with each other. As a consequence the transmission member willbe free.

embodiment above described the toothed seg-' ments are relativelynarrow, i. e. contain but a few teeth. This entails that the maximumangle of deflection permissible during the function of the joint will berelatively small. Here, the said angle amounts to 225, i. e. a value,which is quite suflicient in many cases.

If greater angles of deflection be desired, the toothed segments have tobe made correspondingly longer, in which case difliculties may occur inthe mounting or dismounting of the joint in the manner described.

For this purpose other steps may instead be taken, some examples ofwhich are shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

Figs. 5 and 6 show an end view and an axial section, respectively, of adriving joint member composed of several parts. The hub portion properis made as a cubic body I to which plates 22 and 23 are firmly securedby means of screw bolts 2|, the arms 3, Sand 4, 5 projecting from saidplates. The driven joint member is made in the same manner. Atransmission member, which, if desired, may have circumferential toothedrims, can thus be placed between the displaced arm-plates, which arethen secured to the hub portions. The arms are. provided through-goingconical pins 25. The roller bodies I 4, I are provided withcircumferential bevelled toothed rims Hi and H respectively. Such atransmission member may be placed in a joint freely on the one or theother group of said races.

If, however, for any reason the required play should not be at handbetween the roller bodies ll, I5 and the group of races temporarilyrelieved of pressure, it may happen that a sliding friction takes placebetween the roller bodies and the said races, whereby the freeadjustment of the transmission member by rolling could be prevented.

In order to avoid this drawback the roller body may be made as two ringsI4 I rotatable independently of each other, a shown in Fig. 8. For therest the transmission member is of the same construction as in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of a transmission member, which differs fromthat one shown in Fig. '7 by this only that the conical roller body I4according to Fig. 7 is replaced by two barrelshaped roller bodies I4 M,which, if desired may be rotatably arranged on the pin I3 independentlyof each other. The generatrixes of the races 1, 1 9, 8 on the arms 3, 3and 5, 5 are concave in order to obtain the desired accommodation to theroller bodies. Evidently, there is nothing in the way of making theroller bodies with concave and the corresponding races with convexgeneratrix, if desired.

Finally, Fig. 10 shows a roller body having two cylindrical rollerportions I4 and I4, which also, if desired, may be rotatably arranged onthe pin I 3 independently of each other. The races 1, 1 9, 9 on the arms3, 3 5, 5 form plane surfaces. Preferably, the pitch cones ll, l2 mayintersect the cylindric surfaces of the rollers at their middle points.

If desired, the joint may be made for transmission of power in the onedirection only, in which case the inner joint arms shown may bedispensed with.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates of Americe. is:

1. A universal joint having one center of deflection comprising adriving member, a driven member, substantially diametrically opposedraces on each of said members, bevelled toothed elements on each of saidmembers, a single rigid transmission member between said driving anddriven member, roller elements on said transmission member bearingagainst the races of said driving and driven member, and bevelledtoothed elements on said transmission member. rigidly secured to eachother and meshing with the said toothed elements on the driving anddriven members, respectively.

2. A universal Joint having one center of deflection, comprising adriving member, a driven member, substantially diametrically opposedbeveled races on each of said members, bevelled toothed elements on eachof said members, a single rigid transmission member between said drivingand driven member, conical roller eletoothed elements on ments on saidtransmission member bearing against the races of said driving and drivenmember, and bevelled toothed elements on said transmission memberrigidly secured to each other and meshing with the said toothed elementson the driving and driven members, respectively.

3. A universal joint having one center of deflection, comprising adriving member, a driven member, substantially diametrically opposedraces on each of said members having a curved generatrix, bevelledtoothed elements on each 01' said members, a single rigid transmissionmember between said driving and driven member, barrel shaped rollerelements on said transmission member bearing against the races of saiddriving and driven member, and bevelled toothed elements on saidtransmission members rigidly secured to each other and meshing with thesaid the driving and driven members, respectively.

4. A universal joint having one center of defiection, comprising adriving member, a driven member, substantially diametrically opposedplane races on each of said members, bevelled toothed elements on eachof said members, a single rigid transmission member between said drivingand driven member, cylindrical roller elements on said transmissionmember bearing.

against the races of said driving and driven member, and bevelledtoothed elements on said transmission member rigidly secured to eachother and meshing with the said toothed elements on the driving anddriven members, respectively.

5. A universal joint having one center of deflection, comprising adriving member, a driven member, substantially diametrically opposedraces on each of said members, bevelled toothed elements on each of saidmembers, a, single rigid transmission member between said driving anddriven member, roller elements on said transmission member bearingagainst the races of said driving and driven member, and bevelledtoothed elements on said transmission member rigidly secured to eachother and meshing with the said toothed elements on the driving anddriven member, respectively, said driving and driven members comprisinga plurality of interconnected parts.

6. A universal Joint having one center of deflection, comprising adriving member, a driven member, substantially diametrically opposedraces on each of said members, bevelled toothed elements on each of saidmembers, a. single rigid transmission member between said driving anddriven member, roller elements on said transmission member bearingagainst the races of said driving and driven member, and bevelledtoothed elements on said transmission member rigidly secured to eachother and meshing with the said toothed elements on the driving anddriven members, respectively, said transmission member comprising aplurality of interconnected parts.

'7. A universal joint, having one center of deflection, comprising adriving member, a driven member, substantially diametrically opposedbeveled races on each of said members, bevelled toothed elements on eachof said members, a single rigid transmission member between said drivingand driven member, conical roller elements on said transmission memberbearing against the races of said driving and driven member, andbevelled toothed elements on said transmission member rigidly secured toeach other and meshing with the said toothed elements on the driving anddriven members, re-

'elements on each 01' said members, a single rigid transmission memberbetween said driving and driven member, roller elements on saidtransmission member bearing against the races of said driving and drivenmember, and bevelled toothed elements on said transmission memberrigidly secured to each other and meshing with the said toothed elementson the driving and driven members, respectively, the roller elements ofsaid.

transmission member comprising each independently rotatable rings.

9. A universal joint having one center or deflection, comprising a.driving member, a driven member, substantially diametrically opposedbevelled races on each or said members, bevelled toothed elements oneach or said members, a single rigid transmission member between saiddriving and driven member, conical roller elements on said transmissionmember bearing against the races of said driving and-driven member, andbevelled toothed elements on said transmission member rigidly secured toeach other and meshing with the said toothed elements on the driving anddriven members, respectively, the conical surface of said rollerelements coinciding with the pitch cone of the toothed elements of saidtransmission member, said pitch cone having its apex lying at the saidcenter of deflection.

10. A universal joint having one center of deflection, comprising adriving member, a driven member, iour clutch-like projections on each ofsaid members, substantially diametrically opposed by pairs, each pairlying substantially at the same distance from the center of deflection,the one pair of projections of each of said members lying at a greaterdistance from the said center than does the second pair, said outerprojections of each member embracing the said inner projections of theopposite member, races on each oi said projections, bevelled toothedelements on two pairs of said projections, a single transmiselements onsaid transmission member rigidly secured to each other and meshing withthe said toothed elements on said projections.

11. A universal joint having one center of deflection, comprising adriving member, a driven member, tour clutch-like projections on each ofraces, and bevelled toothed elements on said transmission member rigidlysecured to each other and meshing with the said toothed elements on saidprojections.

12. A universal joint having one center of deflection, comprising adriving member, a driven member, four clutch-like projections on each ofsaid members substantially diametrically opposed by pairs, each pairlying substantially at the same distance from the center of deflection,

the onepair of projections of each of said members lying at a greaterdistance from the said center than does the second pair, said outerprojections of each member embracing the said inner projections of theopposite member, races on each of said projections, bevelled toothedelements on two pairs of said projections, a single transmission memberbetween all of said projections, roller elements on said transmissionmember bearing against said races, and bevelled toothed elements on saidtransmission member rigidly secured to each other and meshing with thesaid toothed elements on said projections, the roller. elements of saidtransmission member comprising each two independently rotatable rings.

SVEN GUSTAF WINGQUIST.

